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Stephen Fry Returns to British Academy Film Awards

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12 September 2011

BAFTA/ Adrian Carr

Fry to host event on Sunday 12 February 2012 at the Royal Opera House in London

Stephen Fry is returning to his former role as host of the Orange British Academy Film Awards next year. Fry first hosted the ceremony in 2001 and continued until 2006 when he handed the BAFTA baton to his successor Jonathan Ross.

Fry says, “I had a marvellous time presenting the Film Awards for the first six years of the century. Hard as it may be for some characteristically sceptical Britons to believe, the BAFTAs have real kudos, reputation and cachet all over the world of film-making and I, old as I am, never cease to be shamelessly glamorised by the sight of so many legendary names who come every year as nominees and presenters.

“The adorable Jonathan Ross has done a magnificent job since I last hung up my bow-tie and boxed my patent leather pumps, and I am honoured and pleased to return to the lectern and host what I am sure will be an evening of squeals, surreally weird acceptance speeches and genuinely exciting surprises and pleasures.”

Ross says, "I have thoroughly enjoyed doing the Awards for the last five years and it is absolutely the right time for a change. I wish my old friend Stephen all the best and I'm sure he will do a fantastic job."

Mark Linsey, BBC Controller of Entertainment Commissioning, says, “We’re delighted to have Stephen back up on the BAFTA stage. There are very few people who possess the wit, flair and genuine passion for film that he does. In true award ceremony style, we’d also like to thank Jonathan for being a fantastic host over the past five years.”

The Orange British Academy Film Awards is produced by Whizz Kid Entertainment and BAFTA Productions and will be broadcast on Sunday 12 February on BBC One.

Amanda Berry, CEO of BAFTA, says, “I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Stephen back to host the Orange British Academy Film Awards in 2012. Since he stepped down from hosting in 2006, Stephen has continued to build an enviable broadcast repertoire, making a string of BAFTA-nominated documentaries and entertainment programmes as well as lending his voice to BAFTA-winning video games, and we will be seeing him shortly in upcoming films ‘Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows’ and ‘The Hobbit’. He has also hosted the Academy’s Britannia Awards in Los Angeles, all the while wholeheartedly embracing the Twitter phenomenon and amassing over 3 million followers.

“Stephen’s love of cinema, his keen sense of fun and his characteristic panache will be a huge draw for the biggest film night of 2012.

“Jonathan’s five-year reign as master of ceremonies coincided with a period of growth for the Film Awards, including a move to the Royal Opera House and increasing international awareness of them. Jonathan’s contribution was an essential part of this, and we sincerely thank him for it.”